before taxes rise and spending cuts take effect at the end of the year. he urges "washington politics" to not get in the way of "america's progress." meanwhile, in the republican address, missouri senator roy blunt says the nation can avoid going over the fiscalbama and the democratic- controlled senate work with republicans to solve the problem. >> the senate has approved a 60-point-4 billion dollar emergency spending package for hurricane sandy recovery. the measure, which was backed by democrats, now heads to the house. meanwhile, republican leaders favor a smaller aid package to pay for immediate sandy recovery needs, saying they need more time to consider any additional aid. >> sandy battered the east coast in late october. it was the most costly natural disaster since hurricane katrina in 2005. >> a connecticut attorney is asking permission to sue the state for 100 million dollars on behalf of a student who survived the mass shooting in newtown. the attorney says the 6- year-old student, identified as "jill doe," was in her classroom at sandy hook e